Automatic cut-off switch



B E. MILLS AUTOMATIC GUT-OFF SWITCH Dec. 6, 1932;

Filed Feb. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 6, 1932. B. E. MILLS AUTOMATICCUT-OFF swITcH Filed Feb. 10,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 6, 1932. B'E.MILLS 1,889,786

AUTOMATIC CUT OFF SWITCH Filed Feb. 10, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 PatentedDec. 6, 1932 UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE BERT E. KILLS, OF OAK PARK,ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO NOVELTY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS .au'rom'rro our-Orr swnron Application filedFebruary 10, 1930. Serial No. 427,360.

This invention relates to an automatic cutoff switch for use inconnection with an automatic multiple recordphonograph.

An object of the invention is to provide in a multiple record phonographa switch which is automatically controlled by the movement of the tonearm of the phonograph to start a record changing 0 eration.

A further object of the invention is to provide a switch of thischaracter, the action of which is equally well adapted to control arecord changing operation whether the record be of the type which isterminated b aneccentric tone. groove or whether it be 0 the type havingtone grooves proceeding in a normal spiral to the end of the record.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will appear as I proceedwith my specification, which taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, discloses, a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawin s:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, partially broken away, showing anautomatic multiple record phonograph provided with the automatic switchof my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partially broken away, showing the automaticphonograph mechanism and the automatic switch, the position of the tonearm at the beginning of the record being shown in solid lines and theposition of the tone arm at the end of the record being shown in dottedlines;

Fig 3 is a wiring diagram of the record changing motor circuit;

Fig. 4 is a perspective. view of the automatic cut-ofi switch, theswitch being in the open position;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the automatic cut-off switch, the switchbeing in one of the closed positions;

Fig. 6' is a broken elevational view, partly in section, showing theconnection between the switch lever and the tone arm.

A series of radially disposed record supports 10 are mounted on ahub-11, which is carried by a shaft 12, the opposite ends of which are journaled in a pair of uprights 13 which extend upwardly from a base 14.The record supports 10 are provided with a central aperture, in whichare secured sleeves 15, which are provided with s indles 16, the

spindles being adapted for ree rotation in the sleeves 15. Recordsupporting plates 17, for holding the records 18, are fixedly secured tothe spindles 16, and the records 18 are removably secured to the recordsupports 17 by lock-clips 19. The records are moved to and from theplaying station by a record chan ing motor'20, the armature of whichissuita ly geared to a gear wheel 21, the teeth of which enga e the linksof a chain 22 which drives a sproc et wheel 23 mounted on the shaft 12.

The records are driven by a disc motor 24, which is provided with afriction drive wheel 25 which turns with the armature shaft of themotor. The peripheral edge of the record plates 17 is bevelled to afforda driving face for the friction wheel 25. The motor 24 is pivotallymounted at 26 in a'yoke 27 which is supported on the base 14.

The reproducer assembly comprises a tone arm support member 28,pivotally mounted at 29 to an upright 30 carried by the base 14; and atone arm 31 on the outer free end of which is mounted a pick-up 32carrying the needle 33. The tone arm 31 is connected to permit doublepivotal movement relative to the tone arm support member 28. It isdirectly mounted on a pin 34, which permits it to pivot about ahorizontal axis, and a bracket 35, which carries the pin 34, ispivotally secured at 36 to the tone "arm support member 28. This doublepivotal type ofmounting permitstthe tone arm to fold back intoinoperative position against the tone arm support member 28 when thereproducer assembly is tilted into semivertical osition. A

stop flange 37 limits the return pivotal movement of the tone arm as itfolds back into inoperative position against the tone arm support member28.

. Both the reproducer assembly and the disc motor 24 are arranged to beautomatically -moved into and out of operative position by the movementof the record carrier. For this purpose'there is provided a cam ring 38,

which is peripherally disposed about the record supports 10and-securedthereto by brackets 39. The cam ring 38 is rovided with aseries of cam rooves 40, whic are arranged to correspon to thesuccessive records and which are adapted, through cam action,

to control the tilting movement of both the reproducer assembly and thedisc jmotor 24. The tilting movement of the reproducer assembly isefiected by a lever 41 which is pivotally mounted at 42 to an upright 43carried by the base 14. The upper end of the lever 41 is provided with ahook portion 42, which is arranged to engage a stud 43 on the recordsupport member 28, and the lower end of the lever 41 is provided with acam roller 44, which is arranged to drop into the cam grooves 40 topermit the lever 41 and the tone arm support member 28 to pivot into-opera-. tive position. The movement of the disc I motor 24 is efiectedby a cam stud 45 which is carried on an apron 46, said apron beingfixedly secured to the shell of the motor. The cam stud 45 is positionedto engage a cam groove 46 which is formed in the lever 41, so that theturning movement of said lever controls both the movement of thereproducer assembly and the disc motor 24. It will beunderstood thatupon movement of the record carrier after the completion of the playingof a record, the

lever 41 will be turned in a counter-clockwise direction, viewing Fig.1, which movement will turn both the reproducer assembly and the discmotor 28 into inoperative position.

If desired, selector mechanism may be provided for permitting theplaying of a desired record. Referring to Fig. 1, a suitable mechashown)carried by the carrier shaft 12.

When the circuit is broken by the selector ele ments the armature-50drops and allows the latch 47 to fall, which disengages the cam roller44. The selector mechanism just referred to forms the subject matter ofmy 00- nding application, Serial No. 427,359, filed F ebruary 10, 1930.Y

The movement of the tone arm 31 is arranged to automatically start a'record changing operation upon the completion of the.

playing of a record. The mechanism for this purpose consists of anautomatic cut-ofi switch which is actuated by the movement of the tonearm 31 to complete the circuit through the record changing motor 20.

Referring particularly to Figs. 4 and 5, the automatic cut-.ofiz switch.comprises a switch lever 51 which is pivotally mounted them inwardlyagainst the switch plate 53.

Depending lugs 63 and 64, carried by the switch arms 54 and 55,respectively, engage the edge of the switch plate 53 and hold the switcharms in spaced-apart relation. The

switch lever 51 is normally held approximately midway between theadjacent switch arms by a spring 65 which is connected at one end to thefree end of the lever 51 and at the other end to a fixed point 66 on theswitch plate 53. The free end of the switch lever 51 is provided with adepending lug 67 which extends through a slot 68 in the switch plate 53,said lug serving as a connecting terminal for a conductor 68' whichextends below the switch plate 53 to the terminal pivot 52; A'conductor69, extending below the switch plate 53, connects the switch arms 54 and55.

The inner free end of the switch lever 51 is provided with a toothedrack 70 which is adjustably secured to the lever by the screws 71. Thetone arm 31 carries an extension 72 on the end of .which is secured abracket 73 which carries a pawl 74, said pawl having pivotalconnection'at 75 with the bracket 73. A sto upper edge of the pawl 4engages aprojection 77 on the bracket 73 to prevent excessive turning ofthe pawl when the tone arm is raised. P

As the tone arm 31 progresses across the face of the record the acrossthe teeth of the-rack 70 and the switch lever 51 remains in neutralposition. If the 76 carried on the.

pawl 74 rides freely record is of the type in which the tone grooves 1 Fprogress in a uniform spiral to the innermost groove as shown at 78,-(Fig. 2) the pawl 74 will progress across the rack 70 until it engages astop 79, as shown in Fig. 5, whereupon the switch lever 51 will beturned until the contact 60 engages the contact 58, where uponthecircuit through the record changing motor 20 will be com leted and arecord changing operation will e started. If, on the other'hand, therecord is of the type in which the tone grooves terminate in an ec-.centric, g'roove'as shown at 80, (Fig.. 2) the awl 74 will pass over theteeth on the rack 0 until the eccentric groove is reached by the needle,whereupon the reverse throw caused by movement of the needle in theeccentric groove will cause the pawl 74 to em gage the teeth on the rack70, which in turn pivots the switch lever 51.unt il the contact 61engages the contact 59, whereupon the cir cuit through the recordchanging motor 20.

is completed and a record changing operation is started.

hen the tone arm 31 is tilted sufiiciently to remove the pawl 74 fromthe rack 70, the switch lever 51 will return to tion. I employ a runningswitch for carrying the circuit of the record changing motor after themotor has been started by the automatic cut-oil switch just described.Re;

ferring to Fig. 1, this switch-comprises, a

switch arm 81 which is pivotally secured at 82 to an insulation plate83, said plate being secured to the upright and a contact 84 mounted onthe insulation plate 83. The upper end of the switch lever 81 isprovided with a contact 85 and the lower end of the lever is arranged toengage a shoe 86, which is carried by the lever 41. As the lever 41.

turns to raise the reproducer assembly into inoperative position theswitch arm 81, under proper spring action, is turned by movement of thelever 41, and the circuit through the record changing motor 20 iscompleted through the contacts 84 and 85.. When the reproducer assemblyis lowered, preparatory to the playing of a record, the running switchwill be opened by the action of the shoe 86 on the lower end of theswitch arm 81 and the record carrier will be stopped'at the playingstation.

A wiring diagram for the record changing motor circuit is shown in Fig.3. The automatic cut-ofit' switch is inserted in one side of the lineand theruiming switch is placed across the line between the automaticcut-ofi switch and the record changing motor 20.

The circuit through the motor 20, therefore, may be completed throughthe automatic cutoff switch even though-the running switch is open. Bythe time the automatic cut-ofi switch has been opened by the removal ofthe pawl 74 from the rack 7 0,.the running switch has been closed andthe circuit is completed through the motor 20 even matic cut-oil switchis open.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearnessofunderstandin only and no unnecessary limitations should be understoodtherefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly aspermissible in view of the prior art.

What I regard as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an automatic phonograph, the combination with a tone arm andelectrically operated means for eilecting a record change, of mechanismfor starting operation of said record change means upon termination ofthe 7 playing of a record, said mechanism comprising a pair of spacedswitch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between said arms and havingcontact elements for engaging said arms close a circuit for energizingsaid record neutral. posi-" though the autochange means, and'meansaffording operative connection between said lever and the tone armwhereby upon uniform movement of the tone arm to the end of a recordsaid lever is pivoted in direction to contact with one of said arms,-said connecting means being further operative to pivot sa1d lever indirection to contact with the other arm upon reverse movement of thetone arm at the end of a record. Y

2. The combination with the tone arm of an automatic multiple recordphonograph of an automatic cut-01f switch actuated by movement of saidtone arm to start a record changing operation, said switch including aswitch arm adapted to start said record changing operation upon uniformmovement of said tone arm to the end of a record, a second switch armadapted to start said record changing operation upon reverse movement ofsaid tone arm at the end of a record, a switch lever having contacts forengaging said arms, and means afi'ording operative connection betweensaid lever and the tone arm cwhereby movement" of the latter pivots saidlever into contact with one or the other of said arms depending upon thedirection of movement of end of a record.

3. The combination with the tone arm of an-automatic multiple recordphonograph of an automatic cut-off switch. actuated by movement of saidtone arm to start a record changing operation, said switch comprising adouble-contact switch lever operatively connected with said tone arm, aswitch arm positioned adjacent said switch lever and adapted to makecontact therewith upon movement of said lever in one direction, and asecond switch arm positioned adjacent said switch lever and adapted tomake contact g playing of a record, said mechanism includmg a pair ofspaced switch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between sa1d arms andhavthe tone arm at the ing contact elements for engaging said arms Y toclose a circuit for energizing said record change means, connectionbetween said lever and the tone arm whereby said lever is moved indirection to contact-one of said arms upon uniform movement of the tonearm to the end of a record, said connecting means being furtheroperative to move said leverin direction/to contact with the other ofsaid arms upon reverse movement of the tone arm at the end .of a record,and a running switch arranged in parallel circuit relation to saidstarting switch mechanism for maintaining a circuit andmeans afiordlngoperative.

"and pawl being arranged to pivot said lever through the record changemechanism following movement of the starting switch mechanism to opencircuit position.

5. In an automatic phono aph, the com-' binationwith a tone arm anelectrically operated means for effecting a record change, of switchmechanism for starting operation of said record change means upontermination of the playing of a record, said mechanism comprising a pairof spaced switch arms, a switch lever fulcrumed between said arms andhaving contact elements for engaging said arms to close a circuit forener-- gizing sald record change means, a rack bar carried by saidlever, a pawl carried by the tone arm for engaging said bar, said rackin one direction to efli'ect contact with one of said arms upon uniformmovement of the tone arm to the end of a record, and in the oppositedirection to effect contact with the other of said arms upon reversemovement of the tone arm at the end of a record.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name to this specification.vBERT E. MILLS.

